Improvement in whip-sockets



J. M. UNDERWOOD. Whip-Socket.

No. 221,482. Patented Nov. 11,1879. Fi l V 12 :2.

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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFIon.

JOHN M. UNDERWOOD, OF NEWARK, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNOR TO ANSOX SEARL S, OFSAME PLACE.

IMPROVEMENT IN WHIP-SOCKETS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 22] A82, dated November11, 1879; application filed October 6, 1879.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I. JOHN M. UNDERWOOD, of the city of Newark, State ofNew Jersey, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Whip-Sockets,of which the following is a specification, reference being had to theaccompanying drawings, forming part of the same.

Figure 1 is the top end view of a whipsocket embodying my invention.Fig. 2 is a faceor side view of the rubber ring used in the mouth of thesocket to support the whipstock and Fig. 3 is a side view of the saidwhip-socket, with a portion of the upper end in section.

My invention relates to a whip-socket form ed of a hollow cylinder, theupper open end of which is provided with a flexible elastic ring, forthe purpose of holding the whip-stock upright, and prevent it chafingagainst the body of the socket.

A is the body of the whip-socket, which may be made of metal or wood inthe usual form. The upper open end, a, of this socket may be madebell-shaped or enlarged, so as to permita recess or annular groove, 1),therein to receive the body of an elastic ring, B. This flexible elasticring B is composed of india-rulober or some analogous material. The body0 of this ring is made to fit into the recess 11, so that it may beretained therein by its own elastic expansive force, the recess beingpreferably made somewhat wider between the upper and lower sides thanthe thickness of the ring. The inner edge of this ring is corrugated orprovided with projections (1, formed on and extending from the inneredge of the ring inward toward its center, substantially as shown inFigs. 2 and 3. It is essential that these projections be entirelyseparated from each .pulled or pushed out of its recess-a result whichis liable to occur when a ring without separated projections is used.

I am aware that a simple rubber ring without projections has been used,held in an annular recess in the mouth of the socket, the interior ofthe ring being made small enough to grasp the whip-stock, and such aring has been held in place in the recess in the socket by its ownexpansive force, and also by being clamped between the top of the socketand a cap fitted to press upon the ring; but into such rings itisdifficult to pass the whip-stock, and they are liable to be pushed orpulled out of their seats by the whip-stock.

I am also aware that an attempt has been made to remedy this difficultyby simply cutting radial slits in the inner edge of the ring withoutremoving any of the rubber, thus leaving the edges of the slits stillsubstantially in contact with each other; but this does not, in fact,cure the difficulty, for when the stock is inserted the edges of theslits are pressed forcibly into contact and adhere together, so thatpractically no advantage is derived from the slitting. It is essentialthat the projections should be not merely severed by simply slitting therubber, but formed separate and perpetually non-contiguous, so that theycannot be pressed into contact with one another by the introduction ofthe whip-stock.

I am also aware that separate pieces of rub ber entirely detached fromeach other have been used, that have been held in place by being rivetedor pinned in or clamped between the top edge of the socket and a capfitted to the socket and pressed down upon the rubber. These areobjectionable, both because expensive and because they are liable to betorn from their fastenings by the whip-stock.

.My improvement obviates all these difficulties. It permits the ring tobe held in the recess in the socket by its elastic force alone, so thatif at all disturbed in its place by the introduction or withdrawal ofthe whip-stock, it will immediately readj ust itself when the stock isremoved; and the separated projections, while they are rigid enough tohold the whip upright and prevent it from wabbling. will yet so easilygive way to the pressure of the stock as to allow the stock to bereadily inserted and removed.

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure by Letters Patent,is-

1. Thecombination, with a whipsocket, ofthe flexible elastic ring B,that maybe held in its place in an annular recess in the socket by itsown elastic force, and provided on its inner edge with non-contiguousprojections d, separated so that they cannot be pressed into contactwith one another by the insertion of the whip-stock into the ring, asand for the purpose described.

2. The flexible elastic ring B, composed of the body 0, having. on itsinner edge the noncontiguous projections 01, separated so that theycannot be pressed into contact with one another by the insertion of thewhip-stock in the ring, as and for the purpose described.

JOHN M. UNDERWOOD.

\Yitnesscs:

Anson SEARLS, JOSEPH M. PARCELLS, R. DE LAMATER, Jr.

